Clam-shell excavating-machine.



C. E. BATHRICK.

CLAM SHELL EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, I911.

' LIW WQI Patented June 20,1916.

6 SHEETS-smut I.

Patented June 20, 1916.

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C. E. BATHRICK.

CLAM SHELL EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, um.

1 9 IL @?,@99 n Patented June 20, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3- mww C. E. BATHRICK.

CL AM SHELL EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIC ATION FILED MAY 25, 19H.

5 SHEETS-SHEET4- InvenZar arle flficdrdola Patented June 20, 1916.

C. E. BATHRICK. CLAM ,SHELL EXCAVATING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY25 19|L I 1 9 1L @Kfigg, Patented June 20, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- $206220)"; W ,BwfirdG/u,

C. E. BATHRICK.

CLAM SHELL EXCAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY25, I911.

LWWHWD v Patented June 20,1916.

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CHARLES; E. BATHRICK, 01E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 FREDERICK C. AUSTIN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINCIS. v f

CLAN-SHERL- EXCAVATING-MACEHINJE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed may 25, 1911. Serial No. 629,359.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BATH- nIcK, a citizen of the United States, and re siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clam-Shell Excavating-M achines, (Case 4%) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to chines known as the clam-shell type and embodies various features of novelty overmachines of this class heretofore constructed to overcome certain difficulties and improve the machine inits general operation.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide separate closing cables for the ends of the bucket, whereby greater certainty and better control is acquired.

Anotherobjectis to provide an equalizer to equalize the rate of closing both bucket ends. Y

Another object of my invention is to pro *vide a single opening line for the bucket sections. More specifically considered, this feature of my invention comprises a bucketopening chain or cable passing through a hollow mast to which the bucket sections are pivoted, this cable being secured to the bucket sections at a substantially central point, which is a point substantially midway between the two closing lines referred to in the preceding paragraph. 7

A further object of my invention comprises a fluid-operated mechanism for actuating the bucket-opening chain or cable. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, this mechanism is in the form of a steam or compressed air cylinder rigidly secured to the boom from which the mast is suspended. The piston which operates in the cylinder has operative connection with the bucket-' opening cable, whereby the latter is operated to open the bucket sections and is relaxed to permit closing'of the bucket sections.

A further object of my invention consists in means for adjusting the angular position of the boom andholding it in adjusted position.

The above and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of an excavating machine embodying my invention; Fig.

excavating maas a-whole by B. The horizontal 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the excavating machine shown in Fig. 1, the bucket being shown in raised andopen position; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the boom and the bucket-carrying mast, the bucket sections being shown in closed position; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, certain parts being broken away for the sake of clearness and the bucket sections being shown in open position; Fig. 6 is a front View of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 4; ig. 8 is a detailed view in plan partly in cross-section, showing the hollow mast supported in the guide member at the upper end of the boom.

The machine is supported on a wheeled truck indicated, as a whole, by the reference numeral 1. On the body of the truck is mounted the engine house 2, in which is located the hoisting engine indicated as a whole by E. This engine may be of any suitable or approved type and no further description thereof is From the side of the truck extend the usual the excavating operati n. of the truck is rotatably table or swinging circle nected the lower end of (in the front part mounted the turn- 4 to which is con the boom indicated pivot 5, to which is secured the turntable 4, allows the boom to swing horizontal rotation ofthe turntable allows the boom toswing in a horizontal plane. As best seen from Fig. l, the boom B is a trusscd frame-work comprising a pair of main beams 6, the truss beams 7 and the braces 8. The truss-beams 7 are each connected'at one end to the main beams 6. This form of boom is Well adapted to withstand the strains to which itds subjected during the operation of the machine.

The boom is supported at the desired an- 7 gle by the following connections: Two upwardly converging bars 9 are at the iower ends connected to the jack arms and at the upper ends connected together by the plate 10. As seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the bars ,9 incline forwardly and are rigidly held in in a vertical plane. while the therefore necessary.

-jack arms 3 for steadying the truck during which is journaled the shaft 13. A set of sheaves or pulleys 14 (three in the present instance) is mounted on the shaft 13. Between the plates 8 is mounted the shaft 15 which carries a set of sheaves or pulleys 16 (three in the resent instance). One end of a rope, chalnor cable 17 is fastened to any convenient point at the upper end of the stationary bars 9, this cable then passing around the sets of sheaves 14 and 16, whence it leads around the guide pulley 18 to'the winding drum 19. The guide pulley 18 is mounted on a shaft 20 which is carried between upright bars 9. Theoperative connections between the engine E and the drum 19 being well understood by those skilled in the art, no description of such connections is here necessary. The above described connection between the stationary upright bars 9 and the movable boom B is a block-andtackle connection which is adjustable from the drum 19 to rotate the boom B about its horizontal pivot 5 to any desired angle of inclination. A pair of forwardly extending arms 21 are at the upper ends pivotally mounted on the shaft 22 carriedby the block 23 on top of the bars 9. The arms 21 are provided with a series of suitably spaced openings 24 which are adapted to register with openings 25 in the lower truss-beams 7 and the plates 8.- After the boom B has been adjusted to the desired angle by the operation of the drum 19, a pin or bolt is inserted through the alined openings 24 and 25 so that the boom becomes locked to the stationary upright bars 9 through the arms 21. In order to 'permit the boom to swing horizontally in any of its adjusted positions the block 23 is pivoted to the top of the bars 9 by means'of the pin or bolt 26 which is directly over the center of the turntable 4, as may be seen from Figs. 1 and 2. Rotation of the turntable 4 is caused by the rope or cable 27 which passes around the grooved periphery of the turntable and is at its ends wound upon the drum 28, the latter being operated bylthe engine E in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

The engine E may be used as a motor for the "truck when it is desiredto move the machine from one place toanother. Any suitable driving connections between the engine and the truck may be employed, and

for the-sake of illustration, I have in Fig. 1, shown the following connections: In the bearings 29 at the front of the truck is journaled1the transverse shaft 30 near one end I of which is fixed a sprocket wheel 31. Each end of the shaft 30carries a pinion 32. On the rear portion of 'the'truck is journaled the transverse shaft '33 having near one end Jfixed the gear wheel 34, which is in alinev.ment with the gear wheel 31. These alined gear wheels support a sprocket chain 35. Guide rollers 36 engage the lower run of the sprocket chain to hold the same in proper relation to the wheels 31 and 34. The front wheels 37 are on the interior provided with a toothedring 38 which engages the associated pinion 32. On the shaft 33 is also fixed the gear wheel 39 adjacent to the wheel 34. A sprocket chain 40 connects the gear 39 with the wheel 41 mounted on the shaft 42. Suitable driving connections are arranged between the shaft 42 and the engine E, so that the rotation of the shaft 42 is communicated to the front wheels 37 by the connections just described. The above described driving connections between the engine and the front wheels of the truck do not form part of my present invention and may be replaced by any kind of suitable connections.

The outer end of the boom is provided with extensions 43 having bearings 44 in which is pivoted the guide member for the bucket carrying mast M. This guide member comprises a pair of plates 45 provided with stub shafts 46 which are journaled in the bearings, 44. The plates 45 are spaced to receive the rectangular hollow mast M, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The mast is built up of a pair of side channel bars 47 and a front bar or plate 48 which is securely riveted to the front flanges of the channel bars. The space 49 between the rear flanges of the channel bars 47 is left open to form a slot for accommodating certain sheaves or pulleys to be presently referred to. The rear ends of the channel bars 47 are braced at the top and bottom so as to give the mast the necessary amount of rigidity. The bracing at the lower ends of the channel bars is done by a casting indicated as a whole by C. This casting is rigidly secured to the lower end' of the mast and comprises a hollow body portion 50 which snugly surrounds the mast, a pair of oppositelyextending lateral flanges or shoulders 51, a pair of forwardly extending flanges 52, and a pair of rearwardly extending flanges 53.

The clam-shell bucket indicated as a whole by B, consists of the sections 54 and 55. Each section is'provided with a pair of bearing arms or brackets 56 by means of which the bucket sections are pivoted to the shaft 57 supported in the lateral flanges 51. The front flanges "52 support the rotatable shaft '58 to which are fixed the sheaves or pulleys 59 and 60. The rear flanges 53 support the rotatable shaft 58 to the ends of which are fixed the sheaves 59 .and 60. The pair of sheaves 59 and 59 are in alinement on one side of the mast, while the pair of sheaves 60 and 60 are in alinement at the other side drum 75 memes w an:

and at its upper end to the frame 63. The chain 61 passes under the sheave 59. A chain or other flexible connection 61 is at its lower end secured to the lug 62 on the bucket section 54 and at its upper end to the frame 63, the chain passing under the sheave 59. The same arrangement of chains is at the other side of the mast, where a chain or other flexible connection 64: is at one end secured to the lug 65 on the bucket section and at the other end to the frame 66, the chain passing under the sheave 60. A chain or other flexible connection 64 is at one end secured to the lug on the bucket section 54 and at the other end to the frame 66, the chain passing under the sheave 60. In the upper end of the frame 63 is journaled the sheave 63, while a similar sheave 66 is rotatably supported in the upper end of the opposite frame 66. A rotatable sheave 67 is supported on the stub shaft 67 mounted in the bearing 68 at the upper end of the boom, as shown in Fig. 7.

In the bearing 68 mounted on the opposite side of the boom is journaled the stub shaft 69 supporting the sheave 69. The sheaves 67 and 69 are substantially in alinement with the sheaves 63 and 66 respectively. On either side of the plates 45 of the pivoted guide member extends a pair of arms 70 rigidly connected at the rear end to the extensions 43 of the boom, as best shown in Fig. 7. The shaft 71 is rotatably mounted in the free ends of the arms 70 and is rigidly fixed on the frame 72. An equalizing sheave 73 is rotatably mounted in the lower end of the frame 72 by means of the pin or stud 74. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a compound drum indicated as a whole by D is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets near the lower end of the boom B. The compound drum D comprises a large central drum 75 and two side drums 75 and 7 5. These three drums rotate as one member. @ne end of a rope or cable 76 is wound upon drum 75 and the end wound upon the drum 75, so that both ends of the cable 7 6 are either wound upon the drums or unwound therefrom. As may be seen from Fig. l, the cable 76 passes from. the drum 75 upwardly over the sheave 67, then downwardly under the sheave 63 then upwardly over the equalizing sheave 73. From this sheave the cable 76 passes downwardly under the sheave 66 then upwardly over the sheave 69 then downwardly to the drum 75.

The central drum 75 is the operatin drum for operating rope or cable 77 passes from the upwardly over a guide sheave which is mounted on the shaft 20 adjacent the sheave 18. This guide sheave is not shown in Fig. 1 for the reason it lies directly behind the sheave 18. This guide sheave for the cable 77 is, of course, rotatacompound drum is rotated force the bucket the side drums 75 and 75. The

ble, independently of the sheave 18. The cable 77 passes downwardly from the guide sheave to thedrum 78 which is operated from the engine E by any suitable driving connections, such as are well understood by those skilled in the art. Whenthe drum 78 is operated to wind the cable 77 thereon, the in a clock-wise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) to unwind the cable 77 from the drum 75 and to wind up the ends of the cable 76 on the side drums 75 and 75. This winding up of the cable 76 raises the frames 63 and 66 and thereby causes closing of the bucket sections through the flexible connections (previously described) between the bucket sections and the frames 63 and 66. In Fig. 5 the bucket sections are open either for excavating the earth or releasing the excavated earth. In Fig. 4 the closing cable 76 has been operated to draw the frames 63 and 66 upwardly to sections together, in order to scoop up the earth. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be observed that there are two closing lines for the bucket sections, one on each side of the centrally disposed mast M. One of these closing lines may be considered as lying in a vertical plane parallel with the mast and passing through the sheaves 67, 63 59 and 59 be considered as lying on the other side of the mast in a vertical plane passing through the sheaves 69, 66*, 60 and 60". By Virtue of these two closing lines, the closing force brought to bear upon the bucket sections is exerted to points near theends of the bucket sections. It will be clearly seen from this that the bucket sections are closed with greater certainty than in the case of but a single closing.

and boom are wound or unwound at the same rate of speed, the equalizing sheave 73 will act as a stationary support for the center of the cable. However, should forany reason one half of the cable travel at a greater rate of speed than the other half, the equalizing sheave 73 will be automatically rotated to adjust one half of the cable relatively to the other so that both halves of the cable are at substantially the same ten sion. It will be observed that the winding up of the cable 7 6 not only closes the bucket sections, but at the same time elevates the mast M.

T have provided the following mechanism for locking the mast at any point in its upward or downward movement. As best seen in Fig. 8, the shaft 79 is journaled in the plates 45 of the pivoted guide member at the upper-end of the boom. A. pinion 80 is fixed upon the shaft 79 between the plates 45. The teeth of the pinion 80 are arranged to be in permanent mesh with the teeth 81 provided on the front plate of the mast M.

The other closing line may If the two halves of the closing cable 76 on opposite sides of the mast Therefore, if the mast moves up and down in the guide member the shaft 79 is rotated. This shaft extends beyond one of the plates 45 and has rigidly fixed thereon the brake 5 wheel 82. Near the upper end of the pivoted guide member at the rear is rotatably 'ournaled the shaft 83 .which extends beyond one of the plates 45 and has fixed thereon a bell crank comprising the arms 84 and 84".

0 A- brake band 85 passes around the brake wheel 82 and has its ends'secured to the arms of the bell crank, as best shown in Fig.

5. A substantially triangular bearing plate 86 is provided with-openings for receiving the extensions of the shafts 79 and 83. At its lower end the plate 86 has an opening to receive the outer end of the pivot pin or lug .46 carried by one of the plates 45. The

brake lever '87 is fixed upon the extended portion of the shaft 83 outside of the bearing plate 86. Referring toFigs. 4 and 5, it will be clear that when the brake lever 87 is rocked rearwardly, the arms 84 and 84 of the bell crank are rocked downwardly and 5 the brake band 85 is tightened around the brake wheel 82. This arrests the operation of the shaft 79 and locks the mast against further movement because of the gear connections between shaft 79 and the mast, as

above described. Normally the brake band 85 surrounds the brake wheel with sufficient looseness to permit free rotation of the wheel. But little movement of the lever 87 is required to tighten the brake band 85 sufficiently to hold the shaft 79 against operation. Any suitable operative connections may be provided for actuating the brake lever 87.

In the particular embodiment illustrated -in the drawings, 1 have shown a rope or cable 88 connected to the lower end of the brake lever 87. This cable extends downwardly alongside the boom to a guide pulley 89 journaled at the lower end of the boom.

passes rearwardly to the arm 90 of a bell crank pivoted at 90 to a'suitable support near the operating drums of the engine. Thisbell crank is arranged within convenient reach of-the operator and by simply placing his foot on the horizontal arm 90 of the bell crank, the operator actuates the brake mechanism, above described for looking the mast at any desired point in its upward or downward movement.

I will now describe the connections for opening the bucket sections and the mechanism for operating those connections. At the front plate of the mast, a short distance above casting G, is provided a pair of bracket arms 91 between which is journaled the sheave 92. At the rear of the mast in alinement with the bracket arms 91, are mounted the bracket arms 93 between which is journaled the sheave 94. As seen from 45 From this guide pulley the rope or cable 88- .mast is raised with the result that the bucket .where the opening line was to one side, is

Fig. 5 the sheaves 92 and 94 extend slightly into the hollow of the mast.

The rear sheave 94 extends through the rear slot 49, which, as previously described, extends from the top to the bottom of the mast. The front sheave 92 extends through a short slot provided for that purpose in the front plate of the mast. A sheave 95 is 1'0- tatably mounted on the shaft 83 between the plates 45, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and extends substantially to the center of the hollow mast. A sheave 96 is journaled between the side plates 45 at the rear lower end thereof in substantially vertical alinement with the sheave 95, as best shown in Fig. 5. so Referring to Fig. 1, a steam or compressed air cylinder 97 is rigidly secured upon the boom by means of cross-bars 98 which run between the lower pair of brace bars 7. Inside of the cylinder 97 is arranged a piston provided with a piston rod 99 tothe outer end of which is pivoted the sheave 100. A rope, cable or other flexible connection 101 is at its upper end secured to the top of the mast M at the center thereof, as indicated in dotted lines at-102 in Figs. 4 and 5. From the point of attachment 102, the cable 101 passes downwardly through the center of the mast, then under the guide pulley 95, then downwardly around the sheave 100, then upwardly over the sheave 96, then downwardly again through the center of the hollow mast. At its lower end the cable 101 is provided with branches 101 and 101". The branch 101 is secured tothe center lug 103 on the upper outer end of the bucket section 55. The branch 101 is secured to the lug 104 arranged centrally on the outer upper edgeof the bucket section 54. The branches 101 and 101 pass under the guide sheaves 94 and 92 respectively, as best shown in Fig. 5. When the piston in the cylinder 97 is operated downwardly, the vertical portion of the cable 101passing through the sections are opened, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the opening line of the bucket section lies in a plane passing substantially through the center of the mast and the bucket sections, and that the ower for opening the bucket sections is app ied at the center point of the sections. The advantage of this arrangement of the opening line over the arrangements in prior structures obvious. Applicants opening line permits the bucket sections to be opened evenly, while an opening line at one side of thebucket sections is bound to exert a greater opening force at one side of the bucket sections than at the other, thereby producing distorting strains.

The piston in the cylinder 97 may be on erated by steam from the engine E, or, if desired, compressed air may be used. Since 1 any suitable operating connections between the engine E and the cylinder 97 may be employed by those skilled in the art, l have not deemed it necessary to describe any particular form of connection.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. lln a clam-shell excavating machine, the combination of a boom, a guide member pivoted to the outer end of said boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from said guide member, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of said mast, a pair of upper sheaves pivoted on either side of said boom near the outer end thereof, an equalizing sheave pivoted to said guide member in front of said mast, a pair of lower sheaves on either side of said mast, supports in which said lower sheaves are mounted, a flexible connection between each support and each of the bucket sections, a pair of winding drums, flexible means passing over said equalizing sheave, then downwardly on both sides under said lower sheaves, then upwardly over said upper sheaves, then rearwardly to said winding drums, means for operating said drums to wind or unwind the flexible means, and means for opening the bucket sections.

2.. In a clam-shell excavating machine, the combination ot a boom, a guide member pivoted to the outer end of said boom, a vertically movable hollow mast suspended from said guide member, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end or said mast, flexible means passing through said hollow mast and connected to the bucket sections for opening the same, and actuating connections outside of said hollow mast for closing the bucket sections and raising the v 3. in a clam-shell excavatingmachine, the combination of a boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from the outer end of said boom, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the-lower end of said mast, two pairs of guide sheaves journaled at the lower end of said mast, said pairs of sheaves lying in parallel planes which pass on opposite sides of the mast at right angles to the pivotal axis of the bucket sections. a movable frame on either side of said mast above each pair of guide sheaves, a pair of flexible members secured at one end to each frame and at the other end to the bucket sections, each pair of members passing under the corresponding pair of uide sheaves, a pulley journaled in each of said frames, an equalizing sheave supported above said pulleys and between said parallel planes, and flexible actuating connections engaging said pulleys and equalizing sheave for raising said frames, whereby the bucket sections are closed and the mast is elevated.

4. In a clam-shell excavating machine, the combination of a boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from the outer end of said boom, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of said mast, flexible means connecting the upper edges of said bucket sections to said movable mast, and independent means for raising said mast and thereby closing the bucket sections, a movable support provided with a sheave around which said connection passes, a piston having a rod connected to said support, and a cylinder in which said piston is movable, said cylinder being adapted to receive a fluid under pressure for operating the piston.

5. In. a clam-shell excavating machine, the combination of a boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from the outer end of said boom, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of said mast, flexible means connecting the upper edges of said bucket sections to said movable mast, and independent means for raising said mast and thereby closing the bucket sections, a movable support provided with a sheave around which said connection passes, a piston having a rod connected to said support, acylinder in which said piston is movable, said cylinder being adapted to receive a fluid under pressure for operating the piston, and means for rigidly supporting said cylinder on said boom.

6. In clam-shell excavating machine, the combination of a boom, a vertically movable hollow mast suspended from the outer end of said boom, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of said mast, means for closing the bucket sections and raising the mast, a flexible connection secured at one end to the upper portion ,of said mast and the other end to the bucket sections, said flexible connection passing longitudinally through said hollow mast, a movable support provided with a sheave around which said connection passes, a piston having a rod connected to said sup port, and a cylinder in which said piston is movable, said cylinder being adapted to receive a fluid under pressure for operating the piston 7. In a clam-shell excavating machine, the combination of" a boom, a guide member pivoted to the outer end or" said boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from said guide member, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of said mast, a pair of upper sheaves on either side of said boom near the outer end thereof, an equalizing sheave pivoted to said guide member in front of said'mast, a pair of lower sheaves on either Side of said mast, supports in which said lower sheaves are mounted, a flexible connection between each support and each of the bucket sections, a

air of winding drums carried by said boom near the lower end thereof, a rope or cable passing over said equalizing sheave, then downwardly on both sides under said lower sheaves, then upwardly over said u per sheaves and rearwardly to "said win g drums, an actuating drum mounted on said boom between said winding drums and provided with a rope or cable for operating the Winding drums to close the bucket sections and raise the mast, and means for opening the bucket sections.

8. In a clam-shell excavating machine,

a the combination of a boom, a vertically movable mast suspended from the outer end of said boom, a clam-shell bucket having its sections pivoted to the lower end of the mast, a pair of sheaves carried by the boom,

an equalizing sheave carried by the boom extending at right angles to the first mentioned sheaves, a flexible member extending over the sheaves, flexible members havin .my name this 1st da of April A. D. 1911.

' CHARL S E. BATHRIGK. -Witnesses:

I. V. CURRAN, A. A. THOMAS. 

